Being a beginner, I still need to look at my left hand (fret) while playing. When I stand up and practice, it is difficult to see the fret board and the positioning of my fingers. I'm concerned that if I ever get good enough to play in a band, I wont be able to stand. Is this common for beginning players or am I just a goober?

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Common problem. Try raising the guitar up highr so you can get a better view for now, eventually the fretboard will be second nature to you and you won't need to look so much. And when you join a band, the hours of practice will give you the muscle memory and confidence for your sets.

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It is like that for us all. I find that when I record I alsays sit...then I have to relearn everything for playing live because I stand then. No worries, it will come to you!

i have the same problem and I too am a beginner. I have been trying to play at least 30 mins a day standing up to try and get more comfortable playing while standing up.

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I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too.

When I first started and mastered enough to be dangerous, I attempted to play standing up. And ... whoa ... it felt like I could barely play. Having always played sitting down, I realized I could not play standing. I just assumed that I could. The way around it is practicing standing up. Now the reverse is somewhat true in that I play much better standing than I do sitting. Since that time, though, I play predominantly standing...

Oh, playing with an excessively low guitar makes things much harder (you should just have the guitar at a medium height). To this day, I have no idea how Jimmy Page played with his Les Paul slung nearly around his knees. He must have abnormally long arms or something...

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Ha - good pic!

Jimmy said that with his guitar slung that low he simply couldn't play a full F major barre chord at the first fret.

His strap length was extreme - but not the most extreme!

Anyway, mainburner. Like folks are saying, it's just practice practice practice. Force yourself to play only standing for a couple of weeks. It'll feel normal in no time.

Cheers - C

PS Who can find a picture of the guy with the highest slung guitar? The chinrest position...?

This may sound weird in light of all the previous comments but as soon as I began to play electric guitar at the tender age of 15 (I was 11 when I started with the acoustic) I started standing up to play and immediately found it easier. After this revelation I went out and bought a strap for my acoustic and found I also preferred playing it standing up as well. I feel constricted when I play seated like I'm not free to move my arms or body about. If I must play seated I will invariably sit out front on the very edge of the seat so my back and arms are unconstrained and my torso posture becomes similar to if I were standing.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Mainburner wrote:





So your problem is not standing up playing, but being able to see your fretboard while standing up playing.

Once you get used to your fret board it will get easier. Playing sitting and standing will be only a bit different…..

You just need to develop your muscle memory and teach your sub-conscious mind the fret board…. That way if you need to look it will be only to see what position your in and the markers on the top of the neck will be fine…

Here is a technique I have been using / an instructor showed me back when to teach your sub-conscious….because your sub-conscious mind can do things faster than having to consciously think about them then do them……first I take whatever I’m working on ; A lick, a scale, a chord progression, what ever….Ill spend 15 or so minutes working it out in proper format at slow speed..when I can play that smoothly ill move to the recliner..turn on the tv and watch TV. All the while im playing the passage over and over on an unplugged guitar….My conscious mind is watching tv and paying attention to the show….My sub-conscious mind is committing the lick, scale to memory. I spend a few days working on that particular Passage, chord progression, you will notice how much faster and smother you will get at it….after a while you will notice you have not even looked at the fretboard in some time as you develop a muscle memory.
Like anything with playing it takes time but it does work.

Cheers
Bill

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

I'm beginning to play guitar, and I'm having the same problem myself. I try practicing both ways--sitting and standing.

Thanks for posting this. At least I know I'm not the only one with this problem.

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"While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

My dad said, "I'm going to miss you."
I said, "Well, now that I broke that sight off your rifle..." (Emo Philips)

Doing it now will be something you'll be glad you did up the road when your jamming with others. Only Johnny Wnter gets to sit down.... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

And Muddy Waters post hip surgery!

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I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo too.

don't worry you will, thats why i used an acoustic guitar as my first because you get used to the fretboard and then move on to an electric. Or just play your electric sitting down for awhile and eventually youll get used to it.

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I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk...

I had trouble playing standing up at first too. I joined my first band after about six months of playing (99% of the time sitting down) and I was forced to stand in band practice and on stage. At first I was really worried about it, but after a time I just stopped thinking about it and I could play just as well standing.

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I used to play sitting down. Then when we moved into a new house, things were such a mess that I literally had nowhere to sit. So I started playing standing up, and I experienced the same problems you're describing. Once we got things straightened up to the point where I could sit, I found I now prefer to stand. So it really is just a matter of getting used to it. You can do it!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

mainburner, you like playing guitar, very cool, not only will you be good enough to play in a band but you will play standing up as well. I hope this doesn't sound too korny but enjoy these learning tasks they go by quickly and then you are a pro and you will look back and smile because you had fun learning the tricks of your profession.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.